Ink. Why I thought—that's to say—there had passed
A few green-room whispers, which hinted,—you know
That the taste of the actors at best is so so.[1]Both. Sir, the green-room's in rapture, and so's the Committee.Ink. Aye—yours are the plays for exciting our "pity
And fear," as the Greek says: for "purging the mind,"
I doubt if you'll leave us an equal behind.⁠81Both. I have written the prologue, and meant to have prayed
For a spice of your wit in an epilogue's aid.Ink. Well, time enough yet, when the play's to be played.
Is it cast yet?Both.⁠The actors are fighting for parts,
As is usual in that most litigious of arts.Lady Blueb. We'll all make a party, and go the first night.Tra. And you promised the epilogue, Inkel.Ink.⁠Not quite.
However, to save my friend Botherby trouble,
I'll do what I can, though my pains must be double.⁠90Tra. Why so?Ink.⁠To do justice to what goes before.Both. Sir, I'm happy to say, I've no fears on that score.
Your parts, Mr. Inkel, are ——Ink.⁠Never mind mine;
Stick to those of your play, which is quite your own line.Lady Bluem. You're a fugitive writer, I think, sir, of rhymes?[2]Ink. Yes, ma'am; and a fugitive reader sometimes.

On Wordswords, for instance, I seldom alight,

↑["When I belonged to the Drury Lane Committee ... the number of plays upon the shelves were about five hundred.... Mr. Sotheby obligingly offered us all his tragedies, and I pledged myself; and, notwithstanding many squabbles with my Committe[e]d Brethren, did get 'Ivan' accepted, read, and the parts distributed. But lo! in the very heart of the matter, upon some tepid-ness on the part of Kean, or warmth on that of the author, Sotheby withdrew his play."—Detached Thoughts, 1821, Letters, 1901, v. 442.]

↑[Fugitive Pieces is the title of the suppressed quarto edition of Byron's juvenile poems.]